Nigerian police have freed 19 pregnant women from properties in Lagos, which they describe as "baby factories"
Most of the women had been abducted "for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling the babies", a police statement said.
Two women who operated as untrained nurses have been arrested but the main suspect is on the run.
Police said that male babies would be sold for N500,000 and the females for N300,000.
The police spokesman, Bala Elkana, said two suspects have been arrested, while the principal suspect, identified as Madam Oluchi, was said to have escaped.
According to the police, Oluchi, a mother of five, from Mbano, Imo State,bring the girls to Lagos from South-East to get them impregnated.Elkana said, “On Thursday, September 19, 2019, around 4pm, acting on the strength of information from a reliable source, detectives from the Isheri Osun Police Station, led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Chike Ibe, stormed a building at No. 14, Adisa Street, Ayanwale area, Ikotun, Lagos, suspected to be used for child trafficking.
“Nineteen pregnant women from the ages of 15 to 28 were rescued and four kids were also rescued.
“They were all rescued from four different locations – No. 32, Owosho Street, Governor Road, Ikotun; No. 29, Olugbeyohun Street, Olakunle bus stop, Abaranje; No. 4/6, Anomo Street, Abaranje; and No. 14, Adisa Street, Ayanwale area, Ikotun.
“The pregnant women were brought in from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo states.
“Two suspects, Happiness Ukwuoma, 40; and Sherifat Ipeya, 54, were arrested in connection with the case.
The suspects are natives of Imo and Lagos states and did not receive formal medical training, but operated as nurses.
“The Command has launched a manhunt for the principal suspect, Madam Oluchi, from Mbano, Imo State. She is a mother of five.
Elkana said the police are working with agencies and stakeholders to rehabilitate and resettle the pregnant girls and the babies.
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